Your regular update for technical and industry information
Your regular update for technical and industry information
JANUARY 2021 - ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS, HARDLINES, SOFTLINES, TOYS AND CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the final rules1 under Section 6(h) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for five Persistent, Bio-accumulative and Toxic (PBT) chemicals. It is to reduce the risk of exposure to humans and the environment. This rule will be effective from 5 February 2021.
The final rules limit or prohibit the manufacture (including import), processing, and/or distribution in commerce for the following chemicals:
Moreover, manufacturers, processors and distributors of the above chemicals or articles containing such chemicals must maintain ordinary business records related to compliance with the prohibitions, restrictions after 8 March 2021. These records should be maintained for three years from the date that the record is generated. The brief summary2 of the restriction of these chemicals can be found in the below tables.
This TSCA Section 6(h) requires EPA to take regulatory actions to address the risk from certain PBT chemicals. EPA identified five PBT chemicals in 2016 and issued proposed rules in 2019. EPA is also working on other chemicals3 to reduce or eliminate unreasonable risks.
Table A. Brief summary of DecaBDE requirement
| Parameter | Details | ||||||
| Scope |
|
||||||
| Uses | Used as a flame retardant in high impact polystyrene-based products, rubber and plastic e.g. electrical and electronic equipment, textiles and upholstered articles, wire and cables for communication, aerospace and automotive vehicles, including replacement parts for aircraft and cars. | ||||||
| Limit | Not used |
Table B. Brief summary of PIP (3:1) requirement
| Parameter | Details | ||||
| Scope |
|
||||
| Uses | Used as a plasticizer, a flame retardant, an anti-wear additive, or an anti-compressibility additive in hydraulic fluid, lubricating oils, lubricants and greases, various industrial coatings, adhesives, sealants, and plastic articles. | ||||
| Limit | Not used |
Table C. Brief summary of 2,4,6-TTBP requirement
| Parameter | Details | ||||
| Scope |
|
||||
| Uses | Used as an intermediate/reactant in processing and is incorporated into formulations destined for fuel and fuel-related additives. It can be used as a fuel additive or fuel injector cleaner by consumers and small commercial operations (e.g. automotive repair shops, marinas). | ||||
| Limit | ≤ 0.3% by weight in any container with a volume of less than 35 gallons |
Table D. Brief summary of HCBD requirement
| Parameter | Details | ||||
| Scope |
|
||||
| Uses | As a halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbon that is produced as a by-product during the manufacture of chlorinated hydrocarbons. | ||||
| Limit | Not used |
Table E. Brief summary of PCTP requirement
| Parameter | Details | ||||||
| Scope |
|
||||||
| Uses | Used to make rubber more pliable in industrial uses but no consumer uses. | ||||||
| Limit | ≤ 1% by weight |
Remarks:
[1] Federal Register of 6 January 2021
[2] Uses and Risk Management for Five PBT Chemicals under TSCA section 6(h)
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